Grammar Info
N4 Lesson 4: 4/18

の様(よう)に
Like (noun), Similar to (noun)

This is a version using nouns, みたい(に・な)→appearance of, のよう(に・な)→in the manner of

Structure
Noun + よう + Verb(1)
Noun + よう + Noun

(1) Adverb、[い]Adjective[な]Adjective
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
The auxiliary verb ようだ is used for making observations. It states that something is ‘in the manner/way of (A)’. Like the auxiliary verb そうだ, ようだ may be used in a similar way to な-Adjectives (can be followed by な when acting as an adjective, or when acting as an adverb). is required before these constructions when it is describing a noun.
  • ナオミプロ歌手(かしゅ)のように歌(うた)
    Naomi sings like a professional singer.
  • この先生(せんせい)鬼(おに)のように怖(こわ)
    This teacher is as scary as a demon. (Literally, ‘scary like a demon’)
  • 私(わたし)鳥(とり)のように自由(じゆう)
    I am free as a bird. (Literally, ‘free like a bird’)
  • 最近(さいきん)タブレットのようなスマホ売(う)られています
    Recently, tablet-like smartphones are being sold.
Because よう (coming from the kanji 様(よう)) usually expresses the ‘manner’ in which something is existing/happening, it is regularly used when the speaker has direct personal experience from which they are drawing a comparison. This means that よう will sound far more confident than みたい, or そう.
Fun Fact
When ようだ is describing another word (in its ような, or ように form), this is known as 例示(れいじ) in Japanese. Basically this translates to ‘presenting an example’, and means that ‘(A) is an example of (B)’.
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箸(はし)のように使(つか)います
Chopsticks are used like this.
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今(いま)スマートフォンのような携帯(けいたい)たくさんあります
Currently, there are many smartphone-like cell phones.
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彼(かれ)コーヒー水(みず)のように飲(の)む
He drinks coffee like it's water.
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Books
Genki II 1st Edition
Page 207
Tobira
Page 17
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 239
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 259
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 39
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 72